Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Fluid Inclusion Study of Gold Deposits Endowed in Critical Metals

Dear Colleague,

Gold deposits have been found in a variety of geological settings throughout the earth’s geological history, since the early Archean. Processes leading to primary concentrations of gold can still be detected in active geothermal areas at present. Gold is typically found in a variety of forms and in association with other metals and metalloids like silver, tellurium, copper and lead, as well as in sulfides, sulfosalts and gangue minerals such as quartz and calcite. Some of these metals and metalloids are considered critical metals since they are vital to important modern technologies and, in many cases, can be extracted as co- or by-products.

The mineralogical composition of gold deposits and their degree of endowement in critical elements significantly varies depending on the geological processes, the environment and the physicochemical conditions of their formation. Geochemical processes play a crucial role in their concentration and dispersion in the Earth's crust. Studies on the geochemistry of gold mineral systems can be used to trace the origin of the ore-forming fluids, the source of gold, the transporting form of Au and conditions of concentration in the form of native metals, alloys and substitutions in the structures of ore minerals.

Furthermore, fluid inclusion studies help to determine the composition and physical state characteristics of the fluids, the temperature and pressure during ore deposition, and the evolution of the metallogenic system.

Understanding the mineralogy, geochemistry, and structural geology of gold deposits is crucial for mineral exploration, as it provides valuable information for targeting areas with the potential for economic gold and critical metal concentrations. It is also a prerequisite when deciding the feasibility of extracting these from specific deposits, as well as determining the most effective extraction and processing methods.

This Special Issue invites contributions that apply mineralogy, geochemistry (major and trace elements, stable and radiogenic isotopes), fluid inclusions and fluid–rock interaction studies in gold deposits endowed in critical metals that have been formed in various geological systems. We encourage original and review papers covering novel techniques, developments and applications in applied mineralogy, geochemistry, and fluid inclusions.

Dr. Grigorios Aarne Sakellaris
Prof. Dr. Vasilios Melfos
Prof. Dr. Panagiotis Voudouris
Dr. Ferenc Molnár
Guest Editors

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• gold
• critical metals
• ore mineralogy
• ore geochemistry
• fluid inclusions
• mineral system
• deposit modeling
• mineral exploration